MacIntyre, 25, and fiancée Christina Teich plan to wed later this year.

They will also make their first public appearance together this Thursday at the first-ever Idol Prom (formerly the American Idol Top 24 party) at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood.

MacIntyre, who finished eighth in season 8, struck an emotional chord with viewers with his spirit of optimism in the face of adversity and his heartfelt music. “Because of my lack of vision, I was drawn to sound,” the Redondo Beach, Calif., native told PEOPLE when he was on Idol.

He debuted his single “Heartstrings” on PEOPLE.com last winter and had a hit with another song, “Christmas Angel,” this past holiday season.